Just have to check out another old memory, since my son, Lee was asking me about “Lambs” – something in the BIBLE that he was reading – just to see, if I knew the story – and before he could say too much, there I was singing this old song from the 1940′

“Unforgettable memory – Aunt Irene…”

If you want small children to learn something “NEW” and “never – ever” forget it – be sure that they are under the age of seven (7) years of age – and make sure…you are having “FUN” – – – since small children remember those times when they are having more FUN …and the adults are having just as much FUN… with them!

During the early 1940s – – and WWII was also in full swing – that is when everybody was doing their part in trying to help … with the WAR effort – that is even our Aunt Irene – – she was saving – since she would go to the downtown – Saint Louis – department stores – do her ordering and making arrangement for the merchandise to be sent out to her home.

Tuesday – that was the day – as Famous Barr stores gave double “Eagle Stamps” – and by saving on your purchases – well… everyone knows – you then have something for that “raining day” spending.

So… on Tuesdays – when getting on the BUS to come back home – Aunt Irene would be sure to get a “Transfer Ticket” so that she could catch the next BUS – that is after having made a stop … at our house. Aunt Irene would be at our house before noon – and sometimes even had lunch with us. Then, she would always sit at my Mother’s sewing machine and either be making something for me or do some mending.

My two brothers and I would be standing around her as she would always have so much to say… but on this one occasion she taught us a “NEW SONG” that was very popular at the time on the radio. This “song” had words that – when you sang them a little fast and to the music as she did – you really didn’t know what you were singing – because it sure did sound “funny to your ears” and that was the whole idea of this song – – a play on the words – and as a little kid – I did not realize that then, and not until I was working for the “Telephone Company” and I was working on the night shift.

We – that is – just a few workers – on the “night shift” and sometimes – so few calls coming through for assistance – that we “girls” had some spare time to talk about all kinds of silly stuff – which lead me to asking “Big MARY” – as she was a singer for some organizations on the side – I had ask her if she knew this old song and if she knew all the words???

““Mares eat oats, and “Does” eat oats, and Little Lambs eat ivy – a Kid will eat ivy too, Wouldn’t you? — If the words sound queer and funny to your ears — a little bit Jumbly and Jivey, sing – etc., — you could go on with this forever.”“

The words above are the correct words – but the way that I was singing them to “Big Mary” – well – she sure let me in on the whole song – the way – I should say – the correct way to sing this song – and that with the correct words – and sung fast … well that is where …the Jumbly and Jivey …do their thing.

I am guessing that this learning lesson came about when I was re-hired by the “Telephone Company” for the third or fourth time – as I had worked for them five (5) different times – Oh – almost forgot – I may have been in my 30’s … – took all that time to learn the correct and coolest words to an old song – that our “Aunt Irene”… taught us three little kids… in maybe 1944???

Try singing those words and see if you don’t remember that old song – and then try to forget it – – That is one “old” song that just hangs on in the “memory bank” – forever!!!

It is terrific that some of the soldiers were coming back from the Philippines on trains from California to Saint Louis, and then my “Father to be” also on that train – met up with a fellow soldier by the last name of “Fleming” – cousin to “MARIE Brady” – was telling “Denny McClarren” about a party for him and his friends coming back home – – and to come with him and meet his FAMILY.

Denny McClarren was going to his home in “OHIO” but, there would be a lay over giving him time to take in a “PARTY” for returning soldiers in the ‘North Saint Louis’ area, and there is the beginning road work for a romance leading to marriage, and only the “Almighty Creator” knew what – was to follow.

If only they made cameras that would be perfectly focused in, on the extra special subject, my MOM to be, – – way back and then, in the 1930’s?

If – “Marie” did mot have to be the one child in the “Brady Family” to have to be the “Care-taker” of the older “PARENTS” – since they did not have that “Social Security” thing, set up way back then – maybe we would have had the chance to get to know our MOTHER when she was much younger? But of course, we do not have that choice to make, as we have been “thought of ” – way before the ‘world’ was a reality – – and we are only the “creatures” – and never have been, the “CREATOR” of this universe. Everything had been in a special plan of the Creator and only by the “CREATOR” as we read in the BIBLE “Psalm 139”.

So, I am very well pleased, with the way everything has been and is going according to a plan and we just need to learn to be content with what we have and have received – and to do our part to help to make everything better for our neighbor as our self – and without complaining. “Who in the world likes to hear constantly, from a big complainer – any way?”

There was an old sayin so long ago – – forgot who started promoting it – – but it goes like this, “The LORD helps those that help themselves” – – and of course most people took that the wrong way – – but, if you give a thought or two about it – – it means that if you can help some one along the road to Eternity – – instead of only doing for yourself – – you will be receiving so much more help in your own needs – – because – – when someone is only receiving and never giving – his empty hand will cause such “backache” – – that there is no healthy LIFE for such a stingy one.

“In giving, we receive more Blessings from our CREATOR – – and that is what is most important for us – – on this trip to our Eternal Reward!” D.V.

Every FAMILY has different rules – – and what will work for one Family, may not be what another Family will agree to doing.

On the right is Marie Brady and neighbor friend, Martha Hoffman sitting nest to her and on the nest set of steps by himself, Thomas F. Brady – -Marie’s father. In the very early 1900’s those front steps that they are sitting, were scrubbed every week – – regular as clock work – and as you can see – they enjoyed sitting on these nice and clean steps – – what more could you ask for – to be out doors an enjoy talking with neighbors and keeping as “COOL” as you will get during that hot Summer weather.

This Photo has to have been taken, before 1927, as that is the year that Mr. Brady died. The reason to mention that, is that Marie was the care-taker of her parents since all of the rest of the FAMILY was married and moved away, only to come home on the weekend when old Mrs. Brady would prepared a very large dinner for all of the children with spouse to enjoy. Jim Brady and wife were living in Texas and Phillip Brady not married was living in Chicago due some riff he had with his Father.

This is my Grandma Brady sitting on her back porch with their “canary” getting some fresh air and SUNSHINE. They always had a bird and my Mother had one also, for the longest time – – and I still have their keep safe “bird-bath” – which meant so much to all of the “Brady’s” – and I did use it for our Bird in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

This is a very good profile shot of “Anne Brady” and the same profile for “Aunt Irene” and most of the Family that picked up the British genes.

So, on this Photo we see all of them enjoying the good ole days – a well deserved rest after a long hard and hot day of work. Each day of the week there were always the same chores to be done – the clothes to be washed on Monday – no fancy wash machines and then every thing hung outside on the clothes line, Tuesday everything that was washed had to now be ironed, even down to the last handkerchief. They may not have had electric irons – – can not remember for sure – – because I have seen some old irons that were used as “door-stops” so that was a job that could last a couple of days.

Regular house-cleaning follow by Friday and Saturday “BAKING” bread, cakes and pies and all of their favorites to last the week. Mr Brady never ate any baked goods from a “BAKERY” would only eat that which his wife would bake! Everything was baked from scratch, and I still have some of their old recipes.

After Mr. Brady died, Marie and her Mother still lived together – still doing all that they had done in the past, and Marie was still obligated to staying at home taking care of her MOTHER, and as her Mother was getting too old to do all of her own baking and making the large meals for the family to come over and enjoy – a small change was made.

On Sundays, one of the brothers and wife would come over and take the “MOTHER to their home and they were to enjoy a good time. Every time that Mrs. Brady was to be taken out, she would have Marie give to her $50.00, and she put it in her purse. After several months of this going on, Marie did not put the $50.00 in her Mother’s purse this one time – – just to see what would happen.

“WOW!” They brought the MOTHER back home so fast and the Mother was upset – – that she did not have any money to give them – -but that was the idea of this! Did they want their MOTHER – or did they just want the money, that she would be bringing to them? So when the air cooled down – – everybody knew how they stood – – just simply connivers for as long as they could get by with it. Naturally ” Marie” was now the enemy – since she held the purse strings.

That is the way it is – – in some Families – – lessons to be taught and then learn the correct way of living with your own Family!

This is one PHOTO that I had found of my “MOTHER” – It was hidden in a closet!

When I came home from the Orphanage, I was still in the habit of doing different chores each and every day – and, for hours at a time. So, in my opinion that is, I thought that I should start doing some of the things that I had done – – and that was cleaning out areas that look like no one had done anything about for years.

Since having worked for “Sister Seraphine” for several different times – and, I did like her – and, she was in charge of the “girl’s Clothing” area on the third floor – -I was always nosy and like to go through the boxes of stuff in closets. So, that is where I began. I checked out everything hanging on hangers, to see what there was – if anything was, what I would wear – and, what if anything my MOTHER did not want any more – because – there was a ‘second -hand dealer’ in the near-by neighborhood – – and things that my “Aunt Irene Riley” would give me – – that were not what I could use – that was the place to take them – turning the stuff into money.

In the apartment building where my “AUNT Irene” lived – there was a woman that did “shoe-modelling” and she gave to my “AUNT” some of the sample shoes she thought I would like – they were “high-heels” and my MOTHER thought, “that they were not correct for a teenager to wear” – so they were new and I took them to the “second-hand dealer” – and he paid me a nice price for them, I felt that I had made a good friend and a ‘good buyer’ of junk!

It is amazing the stuff you will find in a closet – especially one that no one ever cleans out – the stuff is put in, and just as fast, forgotten – getting older – and no one will ever think to look at or for anything – except me – I just LOVE going through a closet and looking for what I consider highly valuable – to me, or to sell!

When I had started going through the boxes and stuff on the upper shelves – stuff that no one had looked at for years – I was in HEAVEN finding things that no one remembered and things that belonged to me as a “baby” like the “Snow White Doll” still in the original box – as it came out when the “Movie” was first released and maybe someday would be worth lots of money – but, too good to just be played with, and destroyed!

The “PHOTO” above that was carefully wrapped up in the original papers from the Photographer – just there and nothing else. So, this I had to take and show my MOM – and wanted to know if I could hang it up? “NO!” “I do not like that PHOTO, just put it back!” – Well, I did as I was told, and put extra wrapping paper around it – as I wanted to be able to remember where this was – in hopes that maybe some day, “Mom” would change her mind, and I could hang it up! That never happened, but years later when I had all of these PHOTOS of the ‘ancestors’ – I decided to frame the PHOTO and NOW have it hanging in my bed-room, and I LOVE the PHOTO – as it does look terrific in my ‘book,’ as I see it, my MOM was a very beautiful woman, inside and out, as so many of her Friends have told me, so many wonderful things, that I did not know, from her younger days!

“Happy Birthday, MOM – – I know that in HEAVEN, You can celebrate, all week long – so have FUN!” D.V.

This PHOTO of little, MARIE gives to me, an idea of where certain features of some of our generations now following – whether or not, they LOOK like the maternal side of the FAMILY.

Just to start off in LIFE, as the “thirteenth child” – that just has all kinds of things that we today would not know how to handle, much less understand. A couple of “MARIE’s” older brothers were already married and no longer living at home – and with FAMILY gatherings – – so many thought that “Little Marie” was one of their daughters’.

“MARIE” was now replacing the previous ‘baby’ in the FAMILY, and that was Phillip Brady, just ten years older than Marie. The only other girl in the FAMILY was Irene Brady and she was five years older than Phillip – and in a few more years would be getting married to a William B. Riley.

“Here is one of my favorite PHOTOS of little, “MARIE” – and just the way she is looking – – I have seen several of the future children to come along through out the years – that have this very same look!”

How would you like, to have to wear so many clothes on a hot “SUMMER DAY” as little MARIE has on – and do not forget the extra ‘petticoats’ and the “Pantaloons” which generally fasten around the waist and could reach to the ankles, and all of these were wonderful for WINTER weather – – but for the SUMMER time – – no wonder people were all small and they melted off any chance of getting too heavy.

Also, as a small child, Marie had the lightest of “Blonde color hair” – as she grew older – her hair would start turning brown and getting darker, and instead of grey or white hair when she died – it was dark brown – – just the opposite of most people.

Just need to add a few other words that describe “MARIE” some – qualities, motherly, protective, caring, nurturing, loving, devoted, affectionate, fond, warm, tender, gentle, kind, kindly, comforting – and only if you really spent some quality time with her – – would you really get to know what a wonderful person she always was!

May our Almighty Yahweh bless “MARIE, my MOTHER” more so than so many others – – as her LIFE was arranged for those times which made it impossible to live her own LIFE – – when the youngest girl in a FAMILY had to be the “care-taker” of her parents – presenting problems and a difficult LIFE here on EARTH, and she did deserve so much better than she received!
“Happy Birthday, MOM” – – -D.V.

This PHOTO has seen better days, but I am so glad and LUCKY to even have it. When you consider the number of moves from one house to another – the packing of “stuff” and not knowing really what is being packed with what – and, will these items stay together safely – and are they even connected – should I want to look for something?

When you move – – the last thought that you have on your mind is, “Am I organizing these items correctly and then listing on the out side of the box – just exactly what is in this box?” So far, in my LIFE, I have not done that – and in having others help you pack, for the big move – they are just stuffing “stuff” in to empty boxes – then taping them shut – and, no one will ever know – where are the Photographs and the boxes of good pictures, that will need some extra special care!

Tomorrow is the 25th of September and is Mom’s BIRTHDAY and this PHOTO has all of us – just as HAPPY as we could be – it was a Visiting Sunday! ***** “HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA” *****

From the left is, Tommy – Mary Ellen – Denny, Jr. and MOM with our brand new baby sister, “EVE KAREN” – in her arms. “KAREN” was a twin and her sister’s name was “KATHLEEN’ – each twin weighing in at “eight and a half pounds” – and our MOTHER only a small “five foot” person. Things just did not work out too well in this situation. Mom had to stay off her feet, so in the fourth month of her pregnancy, we were temporarily placed in the German St. Vincent’s Orphanage – to last for approximately six months?

The babies were just too large, and “KATHLEEN” being the first to be born, had a crushed lung. In those days, they may or may not have had what it takes to save Kathleen’s life – so she did die that first week of LIFE and was buried at Calvary Cemetery a Roman Catholic cemetery located in St. Louis, Missouri.

Today, in Heaven there is a big BIRTHDAY PARTY going on as most of the FAMILY is up there – and, I am betting that, they are having more FUN there, than they ever did – down here! Finally, when it is over down here – – and you have been looking forward to the time that you will be in HEAVEN – – You can rest assured that – – everything will be so much better than you could have ever expected – – and you will have our Almighty Creator being there the KING of KINGS and all of your DREAMS, have the best of endings! D.V.